1997 Mercedes Benz E320 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
63 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
115,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 43 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 63 complaints (19.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 7.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 4.8% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 3.2% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.6% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 1.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs | 12 |
| Suspension | 10 |
| Seat Belts | 9 |
| Suspension:Front | 6 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs: 12; Suspension: 10; Seat Belts: 9; Suspension:Front: 6; Air Bags: 5; Electrical System: 3; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 10 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 15 |
| 150,000 and above | 14 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 15; 150,000 and above: 14
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 20 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 9 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
2000: 1; 2001: 3; 2002: 9; 2003: 6; 2004: 6; 2006: 8; 2007: 5; 2008: 2; 2009: 3; 2010: 2; 2011: 4; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 2; 2016: 2; 2017: 3; 2018: 1; 2023: 2
Pattern summary
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10003396 · 2003-01-25 (January 25, 2003)
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MALLFUNCTION, FIBERS AND METAL SHAVINGS FOUND IN TRRANSMISSION PAN, SHIFT ADAPTION DATA MAXED AT 180. DEALER REPLACED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, TORQUE CONVERTER AND SHIFT SELECTOR SWITCH, FLUSHED COOLER LINES AND REPLACED TRANSMISSION FLUID. PROVIDED 24,000 MILE/24 MONTH WARRANTY. TOTAL COST: $4,339.83.
Owner-reported narrative. 90,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003396 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016557 · 2003-04-27 (April 27, 2003)
TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 83K MILES. THE 2-3 AND 3-4 GEAR SLIPS. ACCORDING TO MERCEDES MECHANICS, THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 1997 E-CLASS MERCEDES. THE ATF, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE CHANGE AT 100K, DID NOT PROTECT THE TRANSMISSION AS ADVERTISED. ONE MECHANIC, SPECIALIZED IN REPAIRING MERCEDES, HAD REPLACED OVER 10+ TRANSMISSIONS FOR THE SAME MODEL YEAR. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 83,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016557 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10148289 · 2006-01-22 (January 22, 2006)
SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING MY 1997 E320 IN 2003 I TOOK THE CAR IN TO REPORT AN ODD ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION WHILE DRIVING IN CRUISE CONTROL. DEALER AT NEWPORT BEACH CA TOLD ME THAT CRUISE CONTROL IS NOT DESIGNED TO DRIVE IN HILLS, ALL OF OC IS FULL OF HILLS. THEY DID NOTHING TO REPAIR PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. IN ADDITION I REPORTED THE AUTOMATIC CONTROL OPENER TO NOT WORK IN TEMP ABOVE 80 DEGREES. I'M NOT SURE IF THE PROBLEM IS RELATED. IN 2005 THE SENSOR NOTICE CAME ON TO REPORT ELECTRONIC PROBLEM. I TOOK IT TO THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 99,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10148289 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10928247 · 2016-11-28 (November 28, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE DRIVEWAY DUE TO A FAULTY WIRING HARNESSS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 170,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10928247 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10066803 · 2004-04-08 (April 8, 2004)
UPON MAKING A RIGHT TURN VEHICLE LOST BRAKE POWER. WHEN THIS OCCURRED CONSUMER SWERVED TO AVOID HITTING PEDESTRIANS, AND CRASHED INTO A GARAGE. UPON IMPACT, BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 57,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10066803 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11048526 · 2017-11-26 (November 26, 2017)
WAS DRIVING SLOW LIKE 10 MPH AND PREPARING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AND THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION AS THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT RETRACTED WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT SLAMMED INTO THE STERNUM OF MY 73 YEAR OLD MOTHER, WHO ALMOST HAD AN EPISODE OF CARDIAC ARREST, BOTH FROM THE IMPACT OF THE BELT PUSHING ON HER HEART AND THE EXPLOSION. ONE WEEK LATER THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT DID THE SAME THING . I HAD NOT USED THE DRIVERS SIDE BELT ON THE DAY OF THE FIRST INCIDENT, OR ANY DAY SINCE. BUT THEY ARE EXPLODING ABOUT THE SAME TIME AS THE SECOND INCIDENT H…
Owner-reported narrative. 146,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11048526 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8008663 · 2002-04-26 (April 26, 2002)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. TOOK BATTERY OUT OF VEHICLE TO TAKE IT TO DEALER TO HAVE IT REPLACED. AS PUTTING BATTERY DOWN, IT EXPLODED, INJURING CONSUMER. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8008663 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11554876 · 2023-11-13 (November 13, 2023)
* Left front substrate to which the Coil Spring Perch mounts is badly rusted and the spring is about to come off under pressure of the cars weight, thereby endangering myself and the general public. The car was towed to Feldmann Imports, a Mercedes-Benz dealer at 4901 American Blvd west, Bloomington , MN 55437 (952) -641-7908 and can be inspected there. * If the spring perch loosens any further, the coil spring would shoot off and likely interfere with the steering system, fuel lines and any number of other components on the vehicle, also …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11554876 at NHTSA ↗